Gospel ministry has a long history in Pastor James’ family. He is the fourth generation of gospel preacher/pastor. The roots of his ministry began with his great-grandparents, Rev. Julius and Betsy Fuller of Eutawville, South Carolina and his grandfather and grandmother, Rev. Abraham L. and the late Emily Fuller. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He was born on May 27, 1959 to Dorothy James and the late Robert James. He is the second oldest of eight children. Pastor James is a graduate of Lake Clifton High School. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from Morgan State University. Always striving for a better understanding of God and His word, Pastor James continued his theological training at Saint Mary’s Seminary. In May 2004, he graduated from Howard University with his Masters of Arts in Divinity.

Pastor James was raised in the Mt. Calvary Star Baptist Church under the spiritual guidance and pastoral leadership of Dr. Alex Young, Sr. In March, 1983, he acknowledged and accepted God’s call to preach. Pastor James delivered his first sermon on March 20th, 1983. He was later ordained in 1989. In October 1991, God called Reverend James to serve as the under shepherd of the Bethany Baptist Church of Mt. Winans.

Pastor James is truly an anointed man of God. Pastor James loves the Word and the sheep which God has placed in his care. The members of Bethany have been blessed tremendously by the enthusiastic teaching and preaching of Pastor James. His ministry is founded on the simple, yet often forgotten ideal of giving back to the community and its people, essentially, “taking care of home”.

Since receiving his call to preach, Pastor James has made himself available for God’s use in the building of His Kingdom. By 2004, the congregation of Bethany Baptist had grown enormously and there was a great need for a larger facility. Plans were made to expand the existing building located at 2616 Ridgely Street to accommodate the growing ministry. In August, 2004, Bethany took up a temporary residence in the Westport Elementary School. Through God’s will, another facility was made available and the new location of 4200 Townsend Avenue was purchased in December 2005. The first service at the new location was held on January 1, 2006. Bethany Baptist is now “one church in two locations”. God has blessed the ministry to serve the communities of Westport, Mt. Winans and Brooklyn.

Pastor James is blessed with four beautiful children, Elisha, Therm, Jr., Arnnett and Hadassah; and one granddaughter, Keziah. The early years of his ministry would not have been complete without the help of his loving wife, the late Mrs. Lynnette James. She served as a help mate not only in the home but in the building of the ministry.

Pastor James loves to impart the Word of God. Under his leadership, the seeds of spiritual growth have been planted and God continues to grant the increase. Bethany can proclaim that Pastor James is not merely a hearer of the Word, but a doer of the Word.

“A Pastor Striving For the Perfecting of the Saints”

“And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” – Ephesians 4:11-12